Ex Kerry manager Peter Keane links up with Beaufort

Keane met the players this week and will have Kerry stars Mike Breen and Sean O’Brien to call on but injuries are a concern

Peter Keane: managing Beaufort in this year's Kerry IFC. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

EX-Kerry and Clare manager Peter Keane has linked up with Beaufort following the departure of long serving Eanna O’Malley, who is stepping away after five years at the helm. 

O'Malley was a long-serving stalwart as a player and manager of the mid Kerry outfit but ahead of their relegation this summer from Division 1 of Kerry's SFL, he stepped away. O'Malley guided Beaufort to All-Ireland Club JFC success in 2018/19, with a big win in the final over Sligo champions Easkey.

The experienced Keane once played with Beaufort and will return having managed the club in 2009, when they lost the Kerry JFC final to Castlegregory.

Keane’s CV is impressive, managing Kerry to an All-Ireland SFC final in 2019, but defeats to Cork in 2020 and Tyrone in the controversial All-Ireland semi-final in 2021 probably cost him his Kerry job. He also managed Clare for one season. He also managed a three in row All-Ireland Minor wins with Kerry from 2016-2018.

Beaufort play in the Kerry IFC that starts that starts on August 2nd and are in a tough group that features Kerins O’Rahilly’s, Glenflesk (managed another former Kerry minor manager Wayne Quillinan) and Castleisland Desmonds.

Beaufort has been emerging from their group over the past number of seasons but just fall short in the knock-out stages. They were involved in one of the most dramatic games in the championship last year against Fossa in the quarterfinal stage and led all the way, only to lose out to an extraordinary goal scored by Paudie Clifford, which because known as the “ Paudenka”.

Keane who met the players for a first official training session on Tuesday, will have Kerry players Mike Breen and Sean O’Brien to call on but injuries are a concern, though former Kerry back up goalkeeper Sean Coffey, is back from a cruciate injury and if Ronan Murphy and the Dennehy brother are fit in time for the start of the Club Championship, Beaufort will be in the running for ultimate honours.

Keane will be assisted by the B team manager Brendan Greene. Peter’s brother, Ray, is the current Cork Under 20 football manager.